Who's The REAL Racist?

Allegations that the Opposition is promoting racial separatism are a bit rich coming from a Government that - new information shows - is creating separatism through social policies that are clearly failing the very people it purports to be helping, ACT New Zealand Social Welfare Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman said today.

"Answers to my written Parliamentary Questions have revealed that, since Labour has been in Government, the number of Maori on the Domestic Purposes Benefit has risen from 36,664 to 42,641 - with the number of children they are supporting increasing 18 percent, from 66,247 to 78,510," Dr Newman said.

"This Government's soft-on-welfare benefit changes are not only harming Maori now, but these figures show they are also damaging the future generation.

"Labour's own research shows that the DPB is a serious risk factor for children, yet it continues to make that benefit more generous. As a result, family breakdown is increasing, more Maori are being enticed onto welfare and more children are suffering.

"Further, Labour's refusal to implement welfare reform - which would benefit Maori more than any other initiative - is instrumental in keeping Maori down, increasing their disadvantage.

"Clearly Social Services and Employment Minister Steve Maharey - who rode the beneficiary vote into office in 1999 - is trying remain in Government by ensuring there will be generations of beneficiaries to vote for him into the future. There can be no other realistic explanation for his actions," Dr Newman said.

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